TanDEM-X PolarDEM 90 m of Antarctica: generation and error characterization

Abstract. We present the generation and validation of an updated version TanDEM-X digital elevation model (DEM) Antarctica: PolarDEM 90 m Antarctica. Improvements compared to global DEM comprise filling gaps with newer bistatic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) acquisitions TerraSAR-X satellites, interpolation smaller voids, smoothing noisy areas, replacement frozen or open sea areas geoid undulations. For latter, a new semi-automatic editing approach allowed for delineation coastline from amplitude data. Finally, was transformed into cartographic Antarctic Polar Stereographic projection homogeneous metric spacing in northing easting m. As X-band SAR penetrates snow ice pack by several meters, concept absolute height adjustment set up that relies on stable penetration conditions ICESat (Ice, Cloud, land Elevation Satellite) elevations. After editing, sophisticated error characterization whole continent data carried out, over blue achieved mean vertical just −0.3 ± 2.5 standard deviation. The filled edited is outstanding due its accuracy, homogeneity, coverage completeness. It freely available scientific purposes provides high-resolution as basis polar research, such velocity, mass balance estimation, orthorectification.